Four Palestinian children have been killed and two injured around the West Bank since September 18, reported Electronic Intifada. Israel maintained that the shootings were in self-defence

The most recent death came on September 20, when Issa Salim Mahmoud Tarayra, 16, was shot in the village of Bani Naim, near Hebron. Israel alleges that Tarayra tried to stab Israeli soldiers stationed at a checkpoint near the village.

On September 19, Amir Jamal al-Rajabi, 16, was shot dead near the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron. According to an Israeli military statement, al-Rajabi looked “suspicious” and continued advancing towards Israeli troops, allegedly armed with a knife, even when ordered to stop. Israeli soldiers then “apprehended and neutralised” the boy. Another man was also killed in the same incident.

The Ibrahimi mosque has been the site of several violent episodes over recent months. Indeed, another boy was killed near the mosque on September 16. Muhammed al-Rajabi, 15, was shot at a checkpoint outside the mosque. Israel claims that al-Rajabi attacked and lightly injured an Israeli soldier with a knife.

According to the al-Quds news network (in Arabic), al-Rajabi was quickly incapacitated but was then left wounded on the ground without receiving any medical attention. He later died of his injures.

A fourth youth, Faris Muhammad Khadour, 18, was fatally wounded after being shot near the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba, near Hebron. Israel alleges that Khadour tried to ram his car into nearby Israelis. Khadour’s fiancé, Raghed Khadour, was also wounded in the incident. Raghed Khadour’s sister, Majd, was killed in a similar episode in June.

Two Palestinian children have also injured by Israeli troops in recent days.
On September 23, 15-year-old Osama Murad Jamil Marie Zeidat was injured by Israeli troops in Hebron. Israeli military sources claim that the boy rushed soldiers with a knife.

Meanwhile, Baraa Oweisi was wounded after allegedly refusing to stop at the Qalandia checkpoint. The girl, 13, was briefly taken into custody. But she was later released after the Israeli army determined that she was not armed and had not intended to attack nearby soldiers. Oweisi’s aunt was shot dead at the same checkpoint last November.

On September 22, Palestine Monitor reported that several Palestinians adults had also been killed near Hebron in recent days. A Jordanian national, who tried to stab an Israeli policewoman at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, was killed on September 16.

According to Defence for Children International – Palestine (DCIP), over fifty Palestinian children have been killed by Israel since the latest wave of violence started in October 2015. Brad Parker, a lawyer at DCIP, stated that “recent evidence suggests that Israeli forces are implementing a 'shoot-to-kill' policy” against Palestinian children, though this is illegal under international law.